Mail-bag delivery and receiving crane



Apr. 17, 1923.

H. BARLOW ET AL MAIL BAG DELIVERY AND RECEIVING CRANE Filed Jan. 28, 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Apr. 17, 1923.

- 1,452,234- H. BARLOW ET AL MAIL BAG DELIVERY AND RECEIVING CRANE Filed Jan. 28, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 wuentocll" flfiarloflr 4; JET/Y Mai/Idea;

I A r 4 Patented Apr. 17, 1923.

UNITED STATES PATENT orri ce.

HARRY BARLOVE AND JOHN E. HENRY MATHIES, OF EAST MOLINE, ILLI NOIS.

MAIL-BAG DELIVERY AND RECEIVING CRANE.

Application filed January 28, 1922. Serial No. 532,453.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, HARRY BAnLow and JOHN EnNns'r HENRY MArHIns, citizens of the United States, residing at East Moline, in the county of Rock Island and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements'in Mail-Bag Delivery and Receiving Cranes, of which the followto the accompanying drawings. I

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a mail bag delivery and receiving crane for usein'connection with mail cars, and which is adopted to be reciprocated laterally through the side door of a mail car, for the purpose of delivering and receiving a mail bag.

Another purpose is the provision of a crane comprising a reciprocating rod having an angle rod secured to its extremity, with 'one'arm of the angle rod extending rearwardly, together with a guard plate, which has rearwardly extending ears to engage and prevent a metallic loop carried by V the mailbag from swinging laterally.

Still another purpose is the provision of a spring ten'sioned member hingedly mounted on the guard'plate, to hold the metallic 100 of the mail bag against the guard plate, said spring tensioned member adapted to be tilted, due to the metallic loop of the mail bag bearing against it as it is removed therefrom by the receiving crane which is dis posed at-the side of the station.

A further purpose is the. provision of means on the reciprocating rod of the deliv ering crane on the mail car, to receive the mail bag from a delivering mechanism at the station and which is similar to that carried by themail, car.

A still further purpose is the provision of a mail bag receiving bracket on the crane at the Stfll3l011,t0 receive a mail bag from the delivering mechanism ofthe car.

While the design and construction at present illustrated and set forth are deemed preferable, it is obvious that as a result of a reduction of the invention to a more practical form for commercial purposes, the in- V vention may be susceptible of changes, and the right to these changes is claimed, provided they are comprehended within the scope of what is claimed.

The'invention comprises further features and combination ofparts as will be hereinmg is a'specification, reference being had after set forth, shown in the drawings and claimed.

In the drawings':

Figure 1 is a View in side elevation of a conventional form of mail car, showing the mail bag delivery and receiving crane in the act of passing a similar apparatus at the station, for the exchange of mail bags as the train passes; i

, Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view on line 2-2 through the mail car, showing the crane as projectingthrough the door openlngin full lines, and positioned within the car in dotted lines; I I

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail view of the mail bag holding and delivering device of the reciprocating crane which is carried by the mail car; I

Figure 4 is a rear view;

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view through Figure 4, showing the spring tensioned clamp as having been moved rearwardly and the metallic loop of the mail bag in the act of leaving the arm which acts inount'ed upon the pins 7. The rollers 6 are aligned with an elongated slot 8 which is formed in thetubular guide.

Mounted in the tubular guide a rod 9, preferably tubular, and is adapted to ride upon the rollers 6, so that it may he reciprocated or projected laterally through the door opening 10 of the car when it is desired to deliver and receive the mail bag. Obviously after the mail bag has been delivered, and another received, the rod or crane may be receded within the car, carrying the mail bag (which may be received thereon) into the interior of the car. Projecting downwardl from the rod or crane arm '9 is a handle 11, the shank ofwhich projects through the slot 8, and due to the shanlcofthe handle delivering and receiving a mail bag.

Mounted upon the outer end of the rod or crane arm 9 is a collar 12, and projecting through the collar transversely thereof and through the rod 9 is one arm 13 of an angle rod 1 1. The other arm 15 of the angle rod extends rearwardly and slightly downwardly, so as to permit the metallic loop 16 of the mailbag 17 to be easily disengaged therefrom. The arm 13 of the angle rod has on its upper end a nut 18, to not only secure the angle'rod inplace, but also to hold the collar 12 in position.

A plate 19 is connected rigidly tothe collar 12, and the lower portion of the plate 19 is relatively broad and hasdepending arms 20, which straddle the arm 15 of the angle I rod, therebyholding the metallic'lo'op 16' of the mail bag in a position on the arm 15, whereby it may be easily removed, when in the act of delivering .the bag. The outer edges of-the arms 20 have rearwardly eX- tending ears 21, which are positioned relatively to the arm 15 of the angle rod 1 1, so as to engage the sides of the elongated metallic loop 16ofthe mail bag, thereby preventing the metallic loop 16 from rocking on the arm 15, due to the vibrations of the car.

' The plate 19 is provided with ears 22, for the reception'of a hinge pin 23, which in turn engages in the ears 24 ofthe angle clamp 25. This angle clamp 25 also has depending arms 26 corresponding to the depending arms 20 of the plate 19. The arms 26 are positioned between the rearwardly extending ears 21, and act to clamp the metallic loop of the mail bag against the plate 19.

The clamp 25 is angular as shown, and its arm 27 is provided with an aperture 28, through which a curved guide rod 29 engages. This curved 'guide rod 29 is carried by an upstanding part 30 of'the plate 1.9. A coil spring 31 engages the guide rod (which is concentric with the hinge of the clamp), and is interposed between the upstanding part of the plate 19 and one arm of the clamp, thereby holding the depending arms of the clamp against the metallic loop of the mail bag, so as to hold it against the plate 19. The 'rearwardly extending ears act to prevent rocking of the metallic loop of the mail bag, eventhough the bag itself 7 is suspended fromthe lower'end of the loop.

wprojecting through the An arm 32 is fixedly carried by the angle clamp 25, and is adapted for opening the clamp 25 when-it'is desired to attach the metallic loop 16 of a mail bag on the arm 15.

A collar 33 is carried by the rod 9, and collar through the rod is an arm 3%, having a nut and.

on one end to not only holdthe arm in place, but also tohold the collar'in place, since the arm penetrates through the collar.

Mounted at the side of the platform at the station is an upstanding support 35 constito the mail bagdelivering device carried by the arm 19 of the mail car.

However the arm 27 of the angle clamp 25 of the delivery apparatus at the side of the station is extended as shown in Figure 1 constituting a handle. for opening the angle clamp of the delivery apparatus at the station. Also the arcuaterod'29 of the delivery apparatus at the station is carried by the arm 27, and works through an opening or aperture 28 of the upstanding part 30 of the plate 19. 'By these mechanisms the delivery of mail bags is effected when the train passes the station.

A collar 37 is mounted, upon the vertical support ofthe crane at the station, and engaging through the collar 37 is an arm 38 of an angle rod 39. 'T'Vhere the rearwardly extending arm of the angle rod joins the lateral arm thereof braces 40 and 11. are connected, the former receives and is connected to a forwardly projecting arm of the angle rod39 by means of a nut 12, while the latter brace extends downwardly and laterally and is connected. at 13 to the uprightportion of the crane. A transverse rod 44 is secured to the angle rod 39,.andractsto engage the metallic loop of the mail bag, to assist ma- -terially in pulling on detaching-the loop from. the delivering mechanism. of the mail car.

lVhen exchanging mail bags at the station, as the train 18 rapidly passing, 1t Wlll be noted that amail bag is suspended from each of the delivering devices. Therod or .crane 9 of the mail car is projected through the dooropening, sufficiently to permit the angle rod of the crane at the station to pass 1 through the loop ofthe mail bag. 'In doing this the arm (which passes through the loop of themail bag at the station) on the rod 9 is positioned so that it will pass through the metallic ,loop of the mailbag at the station atthe same time the arm of the crane at the station passes through. the" metallic loop of. the mail bag on the car. Simultaneously the angleclamps arec'a'us'ed. to open. against the action of theusprings,thereby causing a delivery and receiving of the mail bag, as the train passes. a

It will be notedthat the bottom for closed end ofeach mail bag hasrivetedthereto an elongated metallic strap liiywhieh carries an eye 16, whlchis' in turn connected to the of the car, or that at the station. It is the aim to utilize metallic loops on the mail bag and-also the elongated plate for the purpose ofeliininating wear upon the sacks or bags. since the bags are simply suspended instead of being; stretched on the crane. Obviously when the rings and plates of the mail bag wear out, they may be very readily replaced.

The invention having been set forth, whatis claimed is::- v t 1. In a mail bag delivery apparatus, the combination with, a crane arm, of a collar engaged with the outer end thereof, means passing through the collar and through the arm to hold the collar in place, and provided with a rearwardly extending projection, a guard plate secured to the collar and provided with means engageableupon opposite sides of the metallic loop of a mail bag,

to hold said loop on said rearwardly extending projecton, so as to prevent the loop from rocking, and a spring tensioned angle clamping plate hingedly mounted upon the guard plate and bearing upon the metallic loop for holding it against the guard plate.

2. Inaanail bag delivery apparatus, the combination with a crane arm, of a collar engaged with the outer end thereof, means passing through the collar and through the arm to hold the collar in place, and provided with a rearwardly extending projection, a guard plate secured to the collar and provided with means engageable upon opposite sides of themetallic loop of a mail bag, to hold sald .loop on said rearwardly 6X- tending projection, so as to prevent the loop from rocking, and a spring tensioned angle,

clamp hingedly mounted upon the guard plate and bearing upon themetallicloop "for holding it against the guard plate, said angle clam having depending arms straddling said rearwardly extending projection,

for holdingthe metallic loop flat against the guard plate. I

3. In a mail bag delivery apparatus, the

combination with a crane, arm, of a collar tion, a guard plate secured to the collar and provided with means engageable upon opposite sides of the metallic loop of a mail bag,

to hold said loop on saidrearwardly eX- i tendingprojection, so as to prevent the loop fromrocking,v and a spring tensioned angle clamp hingedly' mounted upon the guard plate and bearing upon the metallic loop for holding it against the guardplate, and means carried by the angle clamp and adapted to In testlmony whereof wehereunto afiix our signatures. I HARR HARLOW. I

J. 'E. HENRY MATHIES. 

